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Seriously, junk food

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/8/2017 1:55 PM (GMT -7)
Usual disclaimer - we're all different. But I thought I'd post this in case anyone else has found the same. In remission for 8 years I could eat / drink anything within reason (i.e. not a bowl of jalapenos etc) and was fine; I was very lucky.

Month #8 of a flare, pred failing, heading to next steps, and have been so careful with diet for so long, I've finally given up as it seems to barely matter, with the exception of real roughage like salads, or hummus or similar --- those hurl through me in hyperspace.

Over the last 2 months, I've taken opportunities to eat like garbage (ladies, you know the time frame I'm talking about) and after three days on Portillo's chili dogs, Panda Express, Taco Bell, Chicago deep dish pizza, and McDonald's.......I had three days of solid BM with no blood.

I can literally tolerate junk food better than "our usual diet". Food for thought! Everyone knows that feeling of having several great days in a row, I'm happy! Good luck everyone!

(Also, anyone tried "Nature's Sunshine, Intestinal Soothe & Build"? Includes: slippery elm, chamomile, plantain, rose hips, and marshmallow. Came highly recommended locally. I was searching for the Qing Dai and could not find)

---- 47 yo female, DX 13 years, Lialda, pred 20, supps and pro-b's
Posted 6/8/2017 2:24 PM (GMT -7)
TP177, I hear ya, I'm on week 2 of a flare and the only thing I can tolerate for dinner is Mcdonalds Fillet-o-fish. It's almost like my body doesn't recognize it as food or something. I'm trying not to feel bad/guilty about that fact and when I get out of this flare I'll correct my diet but just do whatever works for you at this time!
Posted 6/8/2017 3:16 PM (GMT -7)
Yes, when flaring, the "lousier" I eat in terms of a healthy diet, the better off I am. I go completely low-fibre and eat "white" food like white bread, white rice, rice krispies, potatoes, etc, along with proteins like chicken, salmon. I don't actually eat a lot of "junk" food or fast food, but just because of general health concerns. It wouldn't bother my flare at all. Eating chips and other garbage is actually easier during a flare, no blips whatsoever.

During remission, it's completely different. I eat mostly plant-based foods with no issues.
Posted 6/8/2017 4:06 PM (GMT -7)
Junk food usually works out for me well. I try to stay away from grease and fast food in general, but it has never put me out of remission or worsened my symptoms. It helped me gain a lot of lost weight and was easier to eat.
Posted 6/8/2017 7:24 PM (GMT -7)
I've thought about this previously and came to the conclusion that fast food has very little fiber which is big problem for many of us. My gut loves the french fries, Whoppers (I ditch the bun to stay gluten free). I don't think there's a lotta dairy in their frozen desserts (milk is an issue for me). FWIW.

Trying to lose 8 lbs currently, sadly no fries allowed but they def. make my gut happy.

edit to add: carageenan is in the soft-serve along with some chemicals. yum :-(
www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/whats-in-soft-serve_us_59394b21e4b00610548015ac?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Post Edited (imagardener2) : 6/9/2017 7:10:17 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/8/2017 8:07 PM (GMT -7)
For me junk food makes a bad thing worse. There are certain things like french fries but the sugar in the ketchup does me in. Pizza, chili dogs, i might as well be drinking Drano. There is no universal mysterious ingredient in the world of fast food that helps UC flares, some have triggers while others have none. In the end it really depends on the overall health consciousness of the junkie. Those more health conscious will reach for blander foods they dont usually eat like lentils and potatoes to get through it while the fast food enthusiast will binge to their hearts contentt at the peril of something non-uc related, like obesity or high cholesterol. Moderation doesn't hurt i guess is what I'm trying to say.
Posted 6/8/2017 8:20 PM (GMT -7)
Same here. My body loves junk food. Always has. The healthier I eat, the more my gut hates me! I'm in year 4 1/2 remission and my body STILL hates healthy foods to a certain degree. I can now tolerate roughage but only for 2 days max.
Posted 6/9/2017 2:07 AM (GMT -7)
My gut also prefers junk in part as it's low in fiber.
Posted 6/9/2017 5:15 AM (GMT -7)
There was an article on the German news stating that white bread isn't "healthier" than whole grain bread. It just depends on the gut bacteria of the person eating it. Yay smile
Posted 6/9/2017 5:28 AM (GMT -7)
TP, I've noticed the same thing! Healthy foods wreak havoc on me during a flare, but most junk is no problem. Go figure
Posted 6/9/2017 10:24 AM (GMT -7)
What constitutes junk food exactly?

Food is very subjective. What the mind assumes, the body doesn't always agree.

q
Posted 6/9/2017 12:20 PM (GMT -7)
While in a flare I find that bacon doesnt do anything to me and actually doesnt make me use the bathroom every 10 minutes. My gi cant believe that the fatty greasy bacon doesnt affect me. I actually kinda like that it doesn't lol.
Posted 6/9/2017 1:53 PM (GMT -7)

quincy said...

What constitutes junk food exactly?

Probably anything low in fiber. Cheetos, burgers, pizza, hot dogs all contian very little insoluble fiber. You can buy salads at fast food joints but come on, who does that?
Posted 6/9/2017 2:07 PM (GMT -7)
This is so interesting because about 4 weeks ago I started seeing a personal trainer who is also a nutritionist. She has told me to reduce my sugar intake and 'bad' carb intake, and up protein. Wanted me to increase my veggie intake (I barely eat any now) and fruit intake. I tried that and oh boy I went from totally normal BMs to not so good! Still not flaring, but my body clearly does NOT like this sort of 'healthy' eating. smile I went off on vacation for a few days and ate what I wanted and low and behold, gut was back to normal. And I'll just say I ate pasta, red meat and plenty of desserts on vacation.

Just goes to show you, not everybody's UC responds the same. Veggies kill my gut, even in remission. And even cooked sometimes. Fruit too - I can have it one day, but multiple days in a row and I'm in the bathroom 5 times a day instead of 1.
Posted 6/9/2017 2:56 PM (GMT -7)
It's crazy. I notice my appetite gets real odd to match it to...though sugar becomes a craving and I'm usually a savory kind of girl. French fries are oddly safe, this morning I ate lucky charms, and last night I only wanted a poptart. Now, bear in mind I do not eat those things usually...in fact I typically avoid wheat/dairy/sugar and eat very healthy.
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